Mi Preciosa

Chapter 1: Vivienne-Rose Giovanni

I was exhausted. The dig in Lima, Peru had really taken it out of me these past 2 weeks. But it was very rewarding, uncovering the ruins and getting to see Esteban again. I was particularly happy because he had announced that he'd be temporarily working with the University for an indeterminate amount of time. My excitement quickly turns to shock when I open the door to my apartment and found my sister, Vivienne, lounging on my couch, drinking my whiskey...

The next morning, I woke up and found Vivienne making breakfast; pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon with fresh coffee.

"So..." I say, sitting at the breakfast bar, "You're seriously enrolling at my Alma mata?"

"Yup," she says in a curt tone that means it's not open for discussion.

She serves the food and I ask, "So...what's your major gonna be?"

"English with a minor in History," she answered.

"So you're pursuing that passion for the written language and keeping the family happy?" I joke, "I never thought I'd see the day!"

My joke seems to fall flat as it's met with silence. I clear my throat and continue, "Well, since you're doing a bit of history I'll see you around my department quite a bit then! I can help you with assignments and introduce you to my colleagues!"

She smiles gently, humoring me and I continue, "We just finished an archaeological dig this summer, the heat was intense! It's good to be back in a decent climate to start my job as one of the University researchers."

"Yeah, the landlady told me when she let me in," she replies quietly, picking at her small plate of food.

I look at her more closely. She's lost a lot of weight. She was already a stick insect but now she looks...ill. Still as gorgeous as our mother, but...somethings changed. She's quieter, thinner and sadder.

"Viv...I know you probably don't want to talk, but can you humor me for a bit here?" I ask gently.

She chews on her bacon thoughtfully before nodding and I continue, "I know you've had it rough since you left home at 18, 6 years ago, and I know you don't want to go back; I'm not going to force you, but as someone who lived through the fall-out, can you at least tell them you're okay?"

She stares at her plate sadly, tears stinging her eyes, "You have no idea what it was like that night, Matao," she choked, "dad hated me. Him and mom were furious that I wanted to get married to Carter. And in the end I have nothing to show for it. I'm embarrassed and humiliated and I don't want to reach out any time soon."

I hold her hand and nod sadly, "He didn't deserve you, Viv. It wasn't your fault what happened, only his. Mom and dad were angry but they'll understand and they just wanna know you're safe. You're their baby girl after all."

"I know," she sobs, "but I'm not ready for their forgiveness yet. I'm not ready to be judged by our extended family."

I nod, "Take your time. But at least think about it."

She nods and finishes drinking her coffee in one go and I say, "You don't have to tell me any more details about why it didn't work out, but know I'm here to listen anytime when you do."

We finish breakfast in comfortable silence and I stand up and stretch, "I gotta go to the University. I have some work to do before term starts, you gonna be okay on your own? Need anything?"

"Can you get me some more notepads?" she asks, "I need more for my stories, poems and essays."

I nod and head out the door once I've showered and changed. When I leave she's typing away on her laptop surrounded by books.

I get to my new office at the University and sigh heavily.

"Tired Matao?" Sebastian's cheerful voice asks behind me. 

I smile wearily and reply, "Something like that."

"Oh?" he grins, mischievously, "I know how exhausted you were from the flight, something-or someone-keep you up all night?"

I laugh, "Yeah, but nothing as exciting as that," I reply, "my sister dropped in unannounced last night and we spent most of the evening catching up."

He looks at me with surprise, "I didn't know you had a sister, Matao."

I shrug, "She's a bit of an enigma, we haven't seen or spoken to each other for 6 years. She's decided to stop globe trotting and enroll here. English with a minor in history."

"Well, I look forward to meeting her," he smiles.

"Uh, yeah," I reply, forcing a smile, "she might not be very open to conversation though, so try not to pick on her in your class."

He laughs, "Noted. I'll see you later, I need to pick up Esteban at the airport this afternoon and help him get settled into his apartment."

"Okay, see you at the usual bar for drinks?" I ask.

"Usual time," he grins, "Esteban's treat."

I laugh and head into my office to tackle my paperwork...

I dropped off Vivienne's notebooks and some groceries. She was blasting 'Wake up' by black veil brides followed by 'Mystic' by Nightmaradeen when I got in. She'd cracked open a beer and was reading some pretty hard core literature in a cocoon of blankets and throw pillows.

I met Esteban and Sebastian at the bar downtown and found Esteban being rejected by a blonde woman at the bar.

"What'd I miss?" I ask Sebastian, visibly confused.

He chuckles, "Esteban being Esteban. She showed an interest  in him for about 5 minutes, then he went over to her and opened his mouth."

Esteban sits down, dejected, and I pass him his beer, "Cheer up, Esteban, there's plenty of fish in the sea."

"There's also a lot of trash in the sea," Sebastian snickers into his beer.

I shoot him a look and he grins. We carry on discussing work, Esteban's failing love life, Sebastian's 'marriage' to his work and my seeming lack of commitment, before heading home for the evening.

When I stumbled through the door to my apartment, and found Vivienne writing away on her laptop. Her books and notes spread all around her, an empty bottle of wine, the dishes from her dinner are on the drying rack, and she's rapidly typing away at something. She saves her work when she sees me and goes to bed. Vivienne all over.